Overview

Command line programs are programs that are external to Vulcan that are run from a commandline window.

Introduction

To run an external program, open a commandline window by clicking either of the following tiles on the Workbench Start Page:

  • Integrated Shell: Opens a command line window in Workbench.

  • Native TCSH: Opens a standalone commandline window.

All external programs are located in the /bin/exe area of your Vulcan directory. Since this is usually not in your data path, you must include the full path in order to run these programs.

The selection options (switches) that can be used with the programs depend on the program that you want to run. Available options can be shown by entering the program name through the command line of a shell window. Programs that do not allow selection options, show usage only.

Block models are locked while being accessed by Vulcan or an external program. It is not possible to remove these locks, nor is it possible to expand the block model if it was not expanded and collapsed prior to being locked. This is because the Vulcan Explorer uses its last know list of variables and if the block model has not been expanded, then there is no list of variables.

A lock button indicates that the block model was not unlocked prior to exiting Vulcan (may have been due to a system failure). These locks can be removed by right-clicking on the block model name and selecting Unlock from the displayed context menu. A lock button indicates that the block model has been locked by someone else (i.e. another user is currently using the block model). These locks cannot be unlocked.

Programs

The external programs are listed below with brief descriptions. Click a program name to see a full description.

ASCIIT2TRI

Create a Vulcan triangulation from a Vulcan ASCII dump file.

APD

Run Automated Pit Designer.

BADD

Create a new block model by adding two existing block models.

BASSIGN

Assign block variable values from an input model to an output model.

BCALC

Perform calculations on a block model according to the contents of a nominated calculation script file.

BCHOP

Split a block model using a splitting factor (a positive integer, n).

BCHNAME

Edit nominated block model variables, such as variable name, description or default value.

BCONVERT

Convert a classic Vulcan block model into the extended block model format.

BCSVTO

Use this to create a block model from a nominated CSV file.

BDELETE

Delete blocks from a nominated block model.

BEDTAB

Add a character (name) variable to an existing block model.

BEDVAR

Add or subtract numeric variables to and from an existing block model.

BEXPORT

Export a block model to an ASCII file. The blocks to export can be selected by specifying selection parameters.

BEXPR

Calculate an expression in a block model and save it in a variable.

BEXTRACT

Extract blocks from a nominated block model.

BHEAD

Display the header information, including origin, format, dimensions and defined variables, for a nominated block model file. The header information can also be outputted to a nominated file.

BHISTORY

Record and list all modifications and/or processes that have been performed on a specific block model file.

BIMPORT

Import and create a new block model using the block information stored in a nominated ASCII file.

BINDEX

Create a spatial index for a new block model.

BINSERT

Insert mined variables into a nominated block model.

BLOCK_TO_PEXEL

Convert a Vulcan block model into a Pexel file based on the colour legend of a specified variable in the model.

BM_DOUBLE_TEST

Check for duplicate blocks in a nominated block model.

BMARCH

Create grade shell triangulations from an existing block model.

BMARCHV2

Create grade shell triangulations from an existing block model using the improved method. The improved method is designed to resolve the occasional surface problems that occur using the traditional BMARCH method.

BMASK

Export block model variables that correspond to the X, Y, and Z locations of a mapfile or Isis database.

BMERGE

Copy the contents of a block model into a larger model. The schemas of the models must align. They must have same parent block sizes and same sub-schema sizes and the alignment of the parent blocks must differ by a multiple of the parent block size.

BMINE

Report on the proportion of a block that falls in a nominated triangulation(s).

BMODEL

Create a new block model file according to the rules defined in a nominated block model definition file.

BOPTIMISE

Export regular blocks from a Vulcan block model. The information can be exported to a Whittle 3D block model, a Whittle 4D block model, a Whittle 4D pit list file or a CSV file.

BPITVIEW

Take in a design database along with the specification created in the menu option.

BREBLOCK

Reblock a sub-blocked model into a regularised block model. Each variable in the resulting block model will be calculated according to the rules contained in a nominated reblocking parameter file.

BRESERVE_V2

Calculate reserves.

BREVERSE

Create a new block model definition file from an existing block model.

BRIMPORT

Import and create a new block model using the block information stored in a nominated ASCII file.

BSTRAT

Create a stratigraphic block model from a set of stratigraphic grid models created through the Grid Calc menu.

BSTRAT2

Create a stratigraphic block model from triangulations. The stratigraphic models can include sub-blocking and faulting.

BTOCSV

Use this to export block values to a nominated CSV file. The resulting CSV file can be edited through software packages that are familiar with the CSV format, such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.

BTRANSFORM

This option allows a block model to be transformed, rotated and/or scaled.

BTRIANGLE

Intersect a block variable with a nominated triangulation.

BTRIBLOCK

Re-block a block model based upon a new surface.

BTRIFLAG

Perform block flag by triangulation.

BUNCHOP

Take models with compatible schemas and write the union of the block models. All variables are copied. The schemas must be compatible (the same size blocks and origins that differ by a parent block size.) The rotations must be the same.

BUPGRADE

Convert legacy block models created prior to version 4.5 to the current block model style.

DATUPD

Maintain databases.

DBCMPT

Run compositing.

DBLIST

Create a text file of the database.

DBLOAD

Load a.dbl file into a database.

DBMERG

Merge components in a specification file into a database.

DBSCRIPT

Run database conditions (.dcf) files.

DBTABL

Create separate files for each record (table) in the database.

DECLUSTER

Apply cell declustering to a sample population.

DGD2DGN

Use this to export the design data contained in a Vulcan design database into a nominated MicroStation DGN file.

DGD2DWG

Export the design data contained in a Vulcan design database into a nominated drawing file (.dwg and.dxf).

DGN2DGD

Import the data contained in a nominated MicroStation DGN file into a Vulcan design database.

DSF_A2B

Convert an ASCII text file to a binary design file.

DSF_B2A

Convert a binary.dsf design to an ASCII text file.

DWG2DGD

Import the data contained in a nominated Open Alliance Design formatted file (.dwg and.dxf).

FIXDHD

Use Mapfile Generation to generate regular mapfiles using the same data selection procedures used by the fixing process.

FLAGSAMPDB

Run the flag samples option as a separate executable from Vulcan.

GEOTECH_CONVERT

Import structural data into a structural database.

GIF_TO_PEXEL

Convert a External_CompuServe.gifExternal_87a.gif89a image or texture into a Pexel file.

ImportCSV

Automate import runs for CSV files.

MERGE_DGDS

Merge two design databases.

MVTRANSFORM

Allows a sequence of multivariate transformations and backtransformations to be run multiple times.

RGB_TO_PEXEL

Convert a Silicon Graphics Industry (SGI) RGB file into a Pexel file.

RGB_TO_PS

Convert an image file to a PostScript file. The image may be a External_CompuServe.gifExternal_87a.gif89a image, a Silicon Graphics Industry (SGI) RGB image or a Portable Any Map image.

RGB2RTL

Convert.rgb files to.rtl files.

SPEC_MERGE

Merge a local and a master specification file.

TIF2IREG

Create a Vulcan triangulation and Image Registration file (which registers the image to the triangulation) from a DXF file and an image.

TRI2IV

Convert a Vulcan triangulation to the Inventor format.

TRIADJPOINTSDGEN

Use this to generate a specification file of update with points.

TRIAPPEND

Create a new triangulation by adding existing triangulations.

TRIBENCH

Report cut and fill volumes between two open-cut mine designs (such as date1 and date2) on a bench by bench basis.

TRIBOOL

Use this option to performing boolean operations on triangulations.

TRIBOOL2

Computes a grid based union or intersection of two triangulations.

TRIBOOLEAN

Performs the Boolean operation on two nominated triangulations.

TRICLEAN

Compress the data structure of a triangulation by removing all duplicated/unused vertices and all duplicated facets.

TRICLOSE

Close all of the holes in a nominated triangulation solid.

TRICUTFILL

Create solids between two surfaces limited by vertical projection of their footprint intersection.

TRICVOLUME

Calculate the volume of a 3D triangulation, as well as check for closure and topological consistency.

TRIDISPLAY

Display a nominated triangulation(s).

TRIDM

Convert a Datamine triangulation into a Vulcan triangulation(s).

TRIDUMP

Make an ASCII dump of an existing triangulation for import into other systems.

TRIFAULT

Place a fault (defined by a string) on a nominated surface triangulation. The fault results in a vertical or angled tear of the surface.

TRIGEMCOM

Convert a Gemcom triangulation to a Vulcan triangulation.

TRIGRID

Convert a grid file to a triangulation file.

TRILOAD

Turn a nominated ASCII triangulation into a binary triangulation.

TRIMAKE

Take all objects in each layer specified and perform a tesellation of the data. The results are then written and saved in a nominated triangulation.

TRIMINESIGHT

Convert a MineSight triangulation (.msr) to a Vulcan triangulation.

TRIPRODUCE

Create a triangulation model from existing contour data.

TRIREGISTER

Register data onto a specified triangulation projected in the Z direction.

TRIRELIMIT

Create a new triangulation by relimiting an existing triangulation model.

TRISHELL

Clip a triangulation between a series of successive planes and produce new triangulations. The new triangulations are referred to as shells.

TRISIMPLIFY

Filter multiple triangulations at once.

TRISNAP

Snaps points together on a nominated triangulation if they are in a specified tolerance.

TRISPLIT

Use to split a triangulation by volume, with the option of saving a triangulation below the target volume and/or appending the results in one single triangulation.

TRISUBTRACT

Create a new triangulation by subtracting one existing triangulation from another.

TRITEST

Test a nominated triangulation for consistent topology, closure, and intersections.

TRITRANS

Transform a nominated triangulation using matrices in a given specification file.

TRITVOLUME

Calculate the volume between a nominated triangulation and a specific bench height plane.

TRIVOLUME

Calculate the cut and fill volume between two nominated triangulations.

TRIVOXELATE

Repair one or two triangulation by voxelation (creating a block model of a specified size to then generate a grade shell around the invalid solid(s)).

UNCOMP

Uncompress triangulations from newer versions of Vulcan (Vulcan 8.0 and newer) to a format that is compatible with Vulcan 7.5.

ULC_STOPEOPT

Use this to create a batch file to run the Stope Shape Optimiser engine as a standalone tool from a CMD box.